PFAS, chemicals found in non-stick packaging, carpets and pans are blamed for promoting weight gain. To say it a new research that confirms the dangerousness of these substances with which we often come into contact.
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- PFAS, chemicals found in non-stick packaging, carpets and pans are accused of promote weight gain. To say it a new research that confirms the dangerousness of these substances with which we often come into contact.
It would be compounds called perfluoroalkyls (PFAS) in particular that disrupt the body's ability to burn calories and lead to faster weight gain. This is supported by a study conducted by a team from Harvard University that adds something more to what was already known about the dangers of PFAS.
Previous research had linked exposure to these chemicals with an increased risk of cancer, high cholesterol and immune problems.
Now new research led by Qi Sun, a nutritionist who specializes in risk factors for diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease, suggests that PFAS could slow metabolism, which would make it more difficult to lose weight as a result.
The study analyzed data from 621 overweight and obese people who had been on a diet for 6 months. All were part of a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of different types of diets.
As seen in the experiment, people had lost an average of 6,4 kg over the six months of dieting but then regained nearly half of the pounds over the next 18 months. This was not that surprising but the surprise was undoubtedly the fact that those with higher blood levels of PFAS gained more weight after the diet. The effects were more pronounced in women.
According to the report published in the journal Plos Medicine, women with the highest PFAS levels gained about 2 kg more than those with the lowest PFAS levels. The scientists showed that those with high levels of PFAS in their blood also burned calories more slowly than others, as evidenced by their resting metabolic rate.
You may be wondering where these compounds are found. PFAS have been used for more than 60 years in products ranging from food packaging to clothing, non-stick pots and pans. These chemicals can accumulate in drinking water and food chains and remain in the human body for long periods with potentially harmful effects on health.
As Sun pointed out:
“It is very difficult to avoid exposure to PFAS, but we should try to do it. It is a growing public health problem ”.
In fact, data held by the European Food Safety Authority suggests that exposure to certain types of PFAS in Europe is well below the tolerable daily intake.
However, the results of this research may serve as a basis for further studies aimed at better understanding the link between exposure to PFAS and weight management.
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